LaurenKorea

It has been 4 months and 10 days since I was sleeved. I had surgery on June 26th of this year and my hospital stay was 2 weeks. Due to my horrible lapband incident 3 years ago: the doctor used a band too small for my stomach and I couldn't even drink a drop of Water for 2 weeks-my body and brain was literally frying from lack of water, electrolytes and other nutrients, my new doctor who was actually the first and only one to help me prove what had gone wrong with the band performed my VSG. On the day of the surgery, I was scheduled to come out 4 hours later but I woke up 2 days later. My family thought that I had died or went into a coma. My doctor did this intentionally because I suffered from PTSD since the lapband incident. I woke up with a tube down my throat, nose and all kinds of devices stuck to me, to make things worse, my period came but I could not wear underwear because of the urinary bag or whatever they call it. I ended up using 12,000 US dollars, which is alot of money in Korea. I am one of those people with Iron clad sleeve. 2 weeks of follwing doctor's orders to the letter, I started to eat chewy,spicy whatever I wanted. I never had to take the PPI because I never even slimed or threw up or uncomfortable. I even gulped my water by the 2nd week. On the 3rd week of September, everything changed. My whole life was shattered. It began with a cold, escalated into pneunmonia.For some reason, on the doctor's note for work it says pneumonia of unknown causes. The doctor told me to rest, have fun, relieve stress, forget about weight loss for a while and actually cheat. (Now that it's all over, I realize why. From the 1st day of post op until this incident, I had cut off all carbs, sugar and oil.) Something was messed up. I could feel it. I came home with the meds. My symptoms were quite serious and painful. It did not even seem like pneumonia which I had before. Blood clumps were coming out from my nose and throat. When I felt the fever rising, it was so bad I felt like I was going blind. Luckily, the meds were great, 10 minutes after taking them, I felt so good like I walking on air. As soon as I took the first dose of meds, I could not drink or eat anything without violent vomiting except for hot water. This continued for 2 weeks. During this time, I started to faint, foam at the mouth and stop breathing for a minute or two. (This happened about 7 times a day for a week.) My head would drop, then comes the foam and I would stop breathing. I got so scared and consulted with my surgeon but he'd left to the U.S for work and I was in Korea. We had kept in contact almost on a daily basis so he recommended some tests to be done. I had many, expensive tests done and spend thousands at the ER from fainting. Now, this is what puzzles me, Everything turned out to be normal. I had lost 40kgs in 3 and a half months but not in a healthy way. 15~20kgs were from the 2 week period. By the beginning of October which is my 4th month, I was able to drink and eat a little and by doctor's orders, I ate and drink whatever I wanted. All that I was able to keep down were the stuff that I had been dying to eat but had cut off completely hoping for a fast weight loss like chocolate, coke, rice and Korean food. Today, it is 150 days since the surgery, I still cannot eat rice or any type of noodles. I was fired from my job and ended up spending thousands of dollars in hospital bills which was saved for a trip to home which is in Guam. Compare my food diary 3 weeks post-op Breakfast: 1 egg Snack: fat free milk Lunch: chicken breast Snack: iced coffee/some jerkey Dinner: beef chili Water: 2 liters+Vitamins 150 days post-op Breakfast: nothing Lunch: 3 tiny pieces of chocolate Dinner: nothing Water: 1 liter+vitamins What I am trying to say is.....please take care of yourselves. Even a cold can do tremendous damage to us due to the sleeve. I beg you, take care of yourselves. However, I still love my sleeve!

I have never personally tried but reliable sources tell me that it's worth the money. It is quite expensive.^^ Yes, they may seem like dumping syndrome but they actually are not. Anyway, rest assured , everyting gets better with time. I craved all kinds of food in the beginning but now I do not. We shall see if you still love fried foods months from now. Good luck on your journey.

Have you heard of the Phillips Air Fryer? I understand that it fries foods with the minimum amout of oil. Why don't you give that a try. Also, unlike RNY, sleeve does not cause dumping. Good luck^_^

My surgery was on 6/26/11 and so far I have lost 30kg. I've been doing pretty well but with a new boyfriend and dating, I've been eating more. Just today, found a costco near my area (hard to find in Korea.) and this is what I ate today. Breakfast: Turkey w/ Beans 150g Lunch: 100g of hot dog. dinner: 150g of campbell's new england clam chowder& 2 rolled of Kirkland's very lean ham and pickles. Snacks: 3 large glasses of iced coffee with sweet n low. 40ml of blueberry ice cream, 100ml of coke zero 40g of beef jerkey 1 pickle 2 sugar free candies Land o' Lakes light whipped cream 4 tsbp (60kcal) *Today was the first day I had soda since surgery and it will be the last if I can help it. (It sat well didn't upset me but I got a terribly full feeling.) Also the first time with ice cream, will not become a habit. I been low carbing since surgery and will continue to. This one day won't hurt me right? I don't weigh myself often bc I don't like the scale controlling me. Thanks for any honest feedback.^__^

Thanks for cheering me up Diva, I knew you would post a reply! I know that I should cut down my sodium but for some reason that is all I am craving. I just can't resist pickles. I will try to do better with water. ^_________^

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Yes, I am worth it and I've loving myself more and more these days. Thanks, Kelly! ^__________^ p.s: I do write a food diary on my own but most korean food calories are not available so it's confusing but I have been losing pretty fast.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't see it until today. They do have some Jack Link's in Korea but not that particular one. I might have to order from the states. Thanks so much.

As you can see in my user name, I live in Korea and choices are limited. I've always loved chili (especially Wendy's) before I moved to Korea. Anyways, I found some hormel in Korea. Now it has become my regular Breakfast and dinner. Hormel turkey with beans- Is it a bad idea? I know that they contain alot of sodium but I am always craving spicy or salty rather than anything else. I would appreciate honest feedback. Thanks.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I am only 70 days out so I eat about 1/5 of a can at once. By the way, I think I've seen some of your posts or replies, I really enjoyed them. Always short, sweet and to the point!

OMG! Chop Chae is my absolute favorite,too! Unfornately I am not allowed until 3 months out which is about 20 days away. One piece of advice, when you do eat chop chae on the solid stage, be careful. The noodles used in chop chae really bloat up and expand in your stomach. The ingredients needed to cook chili are not really available in Korea, bummer. Thanks for your reply.

Thanks for your reply. I am more than 2 months out and I have never been able to eat slowly. I usually eat within 10 minutes. This was the only thing that sat well and satisfied me eventhough I eat so fast. Maybe I shoudn't add the dash of tabasco but it makes it so much better. Spicy doesn't bother me eventhough my doctor urges me not eat so spicy. I must have a Korean sleeve.

That is exactly what I've been trying to do. I hate plain water and they don't sell crystal light so I water down my daily 2 packets of iced coffee to the max. Thanks Kelly

Hi Lynda~thanks for the reassurance. by the way, I've seen some of your posts and that is a great picture! Cheers!

Since my surgery since June 26th, I have not had any real sweets. Today I found some sugarfree Werther's Orginal Classic Cream Candies. I live in Korea now so options are limited. Anyways, it tastes just like the regular ones. I also got 40g packs of chicken breast Jerky. (Only 109 calories for the whole bag!) Here is the nutritional information for the candy. 70g per bag 10g per serving-approximately 3 candies calories-29 carbs-8.7g sugar-o protein-0 fat-0.9g saturated fat-0.6g trans fat-under 0.5g cholesterol-0g Made with isomalt. I thought this was a great find but if anyone feels differently, I would appreciate your feedback. We do not have sugarfree popsicles and other low cal goodies in Korea so this is probably going to be my only sweets allowed. ( I eat 2-3 a day)

You are so very welcome!~ We are all here to give each other ideas right? I swear I am so obssesed with this site. Whenever I eat something questionable, I come here to search for others who've done the same.

How surprising! I only remember eating stover's candy on Valentine's day. They weren't that great. I never liked peanut butter cups but you got me craving for one.

I had surgery in one of the hottest summers in Korea so I would have given my soul for some SF popsicles! I envy you guys in the stateside. I will not make this a habit. I was just afraid I would start eating regular candy. I teach here so I always have a box full of them on my desk.

ooh~ that sounds good. I tried to keep it under 3 a day also but I keep looking at it.

Hi, I'm looking for good snack ideas. Can you give me information about the lean jerky? Thanks in advance.

You owe it to yourself to feel better and look better. Don't be scared, what will happen if you do not lose the extra weight could actually be worse than anything you'd imagine. Please give yourself this chance. Find the strength in you, it's there.

Hi~ I live in Korea so I seriously do not have access to good, healthy food. I also hate cooking and the big markets are too far away. Anyway, I am thinking about ordering the entrees and protein bars from bariatricchoice.com. Has anyone tried their food? I would really appreciate some feedback. Thanks in advance.^_____^

Thanks ~

If it was spicy, it's probably a different version of bulgogi but the sugar content shouldn't be high enough to concern you, I 'm early out so still watching my sugar. So enjoy^__^

Due to lack of choices in Korea, this has become my staple Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Is this a good choice? Please tell me what you think. 1 and 1/2 tbsp of shredded chicken breast 1 tbsp of pizza cheese 1 and 1/2 tbsp of spaghetti sauce (no meat) I am almost 6 weeks out. My meal plan consists of all types of rice and Korean side dishes so this wasn't exactly on the list. Thank you in advance.^_____________^

Good to hear~ especially from you! I can't wait to be below goal!! I'm already actually eating bulgogi but kinda high in sugar so once in 2 weeks or so. Thanks Tiffy.